Molecular & Structural Biology

RSS

LUC7 Proteins Play Key Role in RNA Splicing Control

RNA splicing is a cellular process that is critical for gene expression. After genes are copied from DNA into messenger RNA, portions of the RNA that don't code for proteins, called introns, are cut out and the coding portions are spliced back together.

21 Feb 2025

New Discoveries Challenge Textbook Knowledge of Mitochondrial Respiration

In an article published in the journal Trends in Biochemical Sciences, Alicia Kowaltowski, full professor at the University of São Paulo's Institute of Chemistry (IQ-USP) in Brazil, advocates the "rewriting" of textbooks on the location of the electron transport chain in mitochondria and the role of sodium in mitochondrial respiration.

20 Feb 2025

Immunotherapy Breakthrough Targets Jumbled Proteins in Glioma

Immune therapy has transformed how cancer is treated, but many tumors continue to evade these treatments, thanks to their resemblance to healthy tissue.

20 Feb 2025

New Insights into How MicroRNA Affects Bird Flu in Wildlife

Previously, researchers thought that microRNA was a kind of useless residue in cells and blood. But these tiny threads are far more important than some imagined. Also for those who study wildlife.

19 Feb 2025

Unlocking the Genetic Secrets Behind Human Vocal Communication

The origins of human language remain mysterious. Are we the only animals truly capable of complex speech? Are Homo sapiens the only hominids who could give detailed directions to a far-off freshwater source or describe the nuanced purples and reds of a dramatic sunset?

19 Feb 2025

MARBLE Method Uncovers Shared Brain Dynamics Across Animals

In the parable of the blind men and the elephant, several blind men each describe a different part of an elephant they are touching – a sharp tusk, a flexible trunk, or a broad leg – and disagree about the animal's true nature.

18 Feb 2025

Single-Cell Sequencing Maps Pregnancy's Early Stages

Recent research has produced the first high-resolution molecular image of the equine endometrium, the inner lining of the uterus, before and after embryo implantation.

18 Feb 2025

Novel Anti-CRISPR Protein Targets Cas13b RNA Nuclease

There are numerous potential uses for the CRISPR-Cas gene scissors, ranging from antiviral treatments and diagnostics to the treatment of genetic disorders.

18 Feb 2025

Scientists Uncover Mechanism Linking OPN3 to Food Intake Regulation

Scientists discovered years ago that the hypothalamus - which helps to manage body temperature, hunger, sex drive, sleep and more - includes neurons that express the protein opsin 3 (OPN3).

17 Feb 2025

New AI Pipeline Revolutionizes Molecular Target Identification

When researchers create new molecules whether for agricultural applications, species management, or life-saving medications it is essential to identify their specific targets.

17 Feb 2025

Study Reveals Mechanisms Behind Bacterial Flagellar Motor Movement

When speaking of motors, most people think of those powering vehicles and human machinery. However, biological motors have existed for millions of years in microorganisms.

14 Feb 2025

Understanding the Complex Architecture of the Minor Spliceosome

In human cells, only a small proportion of the information written in genes is used to produce proteins. How does the cell select this information? A large molecular machine called the spliceosome continuously separates the coding and non-coding regions of our genes – and it's doing this even as you read these lines.

13 Feb 2025

DNA Methylation Governs Citric Acid Production in Lemons

Lemons owe their signature tang to citric acid, yet the molecular mechanisms governing its accumulation have long remained a mystery.

12 Feb 2025

Single-Cell Analysis Reveals Critical Kidney Cell Types Involved in Disease

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine have published a new study in the journal Science that suggests over 1,000 genes could be potential targets for kidney disease treatment.

12 Feb 2025

Study Reveals How Gut Bacteria Influence Brain Protein Modifications

Our guts are home to trillions of bacteria, and research over the last few decades has established how essential they are to our physiology – in health and disease.

11 Feb 2025

Research Sheds Light on How Obesity Affects Gene Expression in Fat Cells

As many as 40% of Americans are obese, putting them at an increased risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, heart disease and certain cancers, according to the CDC.

11 Feb 2025

High-Resolution Images Reveal How Cells Discard Faulty Spliceosomes

A sophisticated molecular machine, the spliceosome, ensures the accurate assembly of genetic information from the genome into mature mRNA after it has been transcribed into mRNA precursors.

10 Feb 2025

Cryo-EM Uncovers Hidden Complexity in Collagen Structure

The most prevalent protein in the body, collagen, has long been thought to be a predictable structural element of tissues.

10 Feb 2025

New Research Tracks the Spread of Biological Control Agent for Lantana camara

New CABI-led research using publicly-shared DNA barcodes and citizen science images have provided new evidence on the establishment and spread of a biological control agent used for the control of the major invasive shrub Lantana camara.

10 Feb 2025

BioMed X and Merck Partnership Makes Significant Strides in Understanding ecDNA Biology

German independent research institute BioMed X announces the successful completion of its oncology research project in partnership with Merck. The data generated by this project has been acquired by Merck for further development, potentially leading to new therapeutic approaches in precision oncology.

10 Feb 2025